For most cameras, the DSLR in particular, give you choice of adjusting the flash apart from on/off means it can be used depending on the creativities of user, bounced or not, defused or not, use or not, in the capable hands. Of course it will be there, if cost and size is not a limitation.

Allioth
wrote:

Visualise the built-in flash in every camer, from poin-and-shoot to DSLRs... What's his purpose? To illuminate dark scenes, and to be used as a fill-in flash in high contrast situations...

Now look at newly developed cameras: very high ISO values, noise is getting handled in better ways, and HDR is getting done in playback mode...

If the trend goes this way, I'm guessing that in a few years the "usable" ISO values will reach easily 25000+... And this will take care of the flash in the first cases... Whilst the HDR getting a better output in every new camera, will eliminate the need for a fill-in flash!

Obviously cameras with a hot shoe will still benefit from an external flash because no software can mimic the bounce flash, or studio requirements... but for the less important built-in flashes... I really guess there's not much left in their lives...